Quebec's health minister apologized profusely Wednesday after suggesting earlier in the day that election-night shooter Richard Henry Bain acted partly out of frustration with the political rhetoric in the province.

Gaetan Barrette's comments were quickly seized upon by political opponents who accused him of suggesting Quebec sovereigntists should moderate their tone to discourage violence against them.

"It is unacceptable that an elected member of the national assembly, and a minister to boot, has made a link between a legitimate and democratic political position and the attack at the Metropolis (nightclub)," Gaudreault said.

PQ leadership candidate Martine Ouellet called on Barrette to resign.

The health minister was asked Wednesday morning about Bain's conviction a day earlier on one charge of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.

Bain started shooting outside the venue in 2012 where PQ supporters had gathered to celebrate their election victory.

"It is unacceptable that an elected member of the national assembly, and a minister to boot, has made a link between a legitimate and democratic political position and the attack."

"When you stir things up too much, sometimes things like that can happen," Barrette told reporters in English. "We don't want it to happen again. But it did and we need to prevent that and in many ways we need to make sure the arguments and speeches we give are measured and direct to the point — and even then, anything can happen."

Later in the day, Barrette returned to the microphone during a news conference and said he was sorry.

He said his original comments weren't about any one political party and that he was including himself in his remarks about the need for politicians to be careful about what they say.

'I sincerely apologize'

"If my comments offended anyone I sincerely apologize," Barrette said. "I had no intention — not today or before — to make any link between those events and my comments or any political party whatsoever."

During Bain's trial, jurors heard how the accused had stated he wanted to kill "as many separatists as possible" and also to murder premier-designate Pauline Marois.

Bain, an anglophone Quebecer, had vented to friends and family about how he believed sovereigntists were encroaching on his rights and ruining the province.

Many people wondered why Bain wasn't charged with terrorism or with attempting to murder Marois, who was speaking to supporters as he began shooting.

Bain vented about sovereigntists

Dennis Galiatsatos, the Crown prosecutor at the trial, said Bain's comments about wanting to kill separatists came to light only during the testimony of a defence witness.

He said he was appointed to the case after the charges had been filed.

"Would (the new evidence) have changed the nature of the accusations? Maybe, but I'd rather not speculate," he told reporters Tuesday shortly after the jury rendered its verdict.

"I'm very comfortable with the charges as they were and as I prosecuted them. "I think that's an accurate and fair depiction of the evidence that we had."

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Richard Henry Bain arrives at court in Montreal on Thursday, Sept.6, 2012. Bain, 61, the suspect in a deadly shooting at a rally following the election of Quebecs new separatist premier was arraigned Thursday on 16 charges, including murder, attempted murder and possession of explosives. (AP Photo/Le Devoir via The Canadian Press, Jacques Nadeau) MONTREAL OUT

A gate blocks the entrance to Richard Henry Bain's fishing camp in La Conception, near Mont-Tremblant, Que. on Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012. Police sources confirmed they arrested a suspect by that name in the Montreal shooting that left one person dead and made headlines around the world.

A three-axle military truck sits near the entrance to Richard Henry Bain's fishing camp in La Conception, near Mont-Tremblant, Que. on Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012. Police sources confirmed they arrested a suspect by that name in the Montreal shooting that left one person dead and made headlines around the world.

A man is arrested by police outside the Parti Quebecois victory rally in Montreal on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. A masked gunman wearing a blue bathrobe opened fire during a midnight victory rally for Quebec's new premier, killing one person and wounding another. The new premier, Pauline Marois of the separatist Parti Quebecois, was whisked off the stage by guards while giving her speech and uninjured. Police identified the gunman only as a 62-year-old man, and were still questioning him Wednesday morning. (AP Photo/Montreal La Presse via The Canadian Press, Olivier Pontbriand)

A weapon is recovered at the scene of the shooting outside the Parti Quebecois' election victory party (RDI screen shot)

A police officer looks towards a black SUV that has had its contents removed on a crime scene outside the Metropolis in Montreal on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)

Police and fireman work at the rear of an auditorium where a gunman shot and killed at least one person during the PQ victory rally Wednesday, September 5, 2012 in Montreal. Guards whisked PQ leader Pauline Marois off the stage as handlers informed the partisan crowd there had been an explosive noise and they needed to clear the auditorium. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois takes the stage after winnnig the provincial election in Tuesday, Que. September 4, 2012. With the win, Marois becomes the first female premier in Quebec history. Moments later, she was rushed off the stage.

Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois is removed from the stage by SQ officers as she speaks to supporters in Montreal, Tuesday, September 4, 2012 following her election win. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois is whisked off stage as she delivered her victory speech in Montreal, Que., Tuesday, September 4, 2012. With the win, Marois becomes the first female premier in Quebec history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

(RDI screenshot)

(RDI screenshot)

Police detail a person behind the Métropolis concert hall where Pauline Marois was making her victory speech (RDI screen shot)

Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois returns to complete her speech after being whisked off the stage by security as she delivered her victory speech in Montreal, Que., Tuesday, September 4, 2012. With the win, Marois becomes the first female premier in Quebec history.

Police cordon off the rear outside an auditorium where a gunman shot and killed at least one person during the PQ victory rally Wednesday, September 5, 2012 in Montreal. Guards whisked PQ leader Pauline Marois off the stage as handlers informed the partisan crowd there had been an explosive noise and they needed to clear the auditorium. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Police and fireman work at the rear of an auditorium where a gunman shot and killed at least one person during the PQ victory rally Wednesday, September 5, 2012 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Police cordon off the rear outside an auditorium where a gunman shot and killed at least one person during the PQ victory rally Wednesday, September 5, 2012 in Montreal. Guards whisked PQ leader Pauline Marois off the stage as handlers informed the partisan crowd there had been an explosive noise and they needed to clear the auditorium. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Police work on a crime scene outside the Metropolis in Montreal on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)

A police officer looks towards a black SUV that has had its contents removed at a crime scene outside the Metropolis in Montreal on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012.(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)